I established the Eternal Immortal Clan by taming beasts.

Burning Bone City, Fengxing Merchant Guild, third-floor private room.

The aroma of tea wafts gently from the spout of the celadon teapot, weaving a thin veil in the air.

The noise outside the window was shut out by the thick wooden door.

The cries of street vendors, the rumble of spirit beast carts, and the buzzing of pedestrians' conversations were all blocked out by the door panel engraved with soundproof array patterns, not a single sound could penetrate in.

The private room was so quiet that only the soft sound of tea being poured into a cup could be heard, like a clear spring dripping onto a stone, making a tinkling sound.

Wang Qinian personally held the teapot and pushed a cup of emerald green spiritual tea in front of Lin Che.

The tea soup is crystal clear, with a few tender buds slowly unfurling in the water, like tender leaves in early spring swaying gently in the breeze, their veins clearly visible, as if still carrying the dew from the mountains.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, I've kept you waiting." He sat down opposite him, picked up his teacup, gently blew away the floating tea foam, and looked at Lin Che's face through the tea smoke.

His gaze wasn't intense, yet it carried the familiarity of an old friend reuniting, along with a touch of shrewdness and probing characteristic of a businessman.

"I invited you here today to talk to you about the Suppressing Evil Secret Realm."

"The Demon-Suppressing Secret Realm?" Lin Che put down the teacup he had just picked up, his eyebrows slightly raised.

This was the first time he had ever heard of those four words.

He had learned about the secret realms surrounding Burning Bone City to some extent over the years, but this "Suppressing Evil Secret Realm" had never appeared in any intelligence reports.

"It seems Brother Lin hasn't learned about this yet." His tone carried a hint of "I knew it," and his gaze lingered on Lin Che's face for a moment to confirm that the other party was indeed unaware before continuing.

"News about this secret realm usually only circulates among those at the Golden Core level. It's normal that Brother Lin, being outside the pass, wouldn't know about it."

Wang Qinian put down his teacup, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest twice.

"Six hundred miles south of the main pass of Burning Bone Pass, there is a rift valley. Deep within the rift valley lies a secret realm, which the Fang family calls the 'Suppressing Evil Secret Realm,' while we who make a living in Burning Bone City are used to calling it the 'Burial Ground of Ten Thousand Beasts.'"

Lin Che's eyebrows twitched slightly, but he did not interrupt.

"This secret realm is structured just like its name suggests; it is a burial ground for demonic beasts."

"The souls of the monsters that die in each beast tide, especially those stronger third- or even fourth-tier monsters, will not dissipate in a short period of time."

A large amount of resentment accumulated on the battlefield. Over time, this resentment began to affect the living demonic beasts, making them abnormally frenzied. It even affected the soldiers guarding Burning Bone Pass, causing them to suffer from insomnia and restlessness. In severe cases, it could even lead to them going berserk.

Lin Che put down his teacup, his gaze slightly narrowed.

"Therefore, the Fang family spent hundreds of years and invested countless manpower and resources to open up an independent space in the rift valley, set up a great formation, and attracted all the souls, resentments, and evil energy of the demon beasts that died in the previous beast tides into it and sealed them inside."

He paused, picked up his teacup, and took a sip.

"This is the current burial ground for all beasts."

"Can it be sealed off?" Lin Che asked doubtfully.

"It can be sealed off, but it won't last long." Wang Qinian shook his head and put down his teacup.

"Resentment and malevolent energy won't disappear out of thin air; they'll only accumulate. About every hundred years, the concentration of malevolent energy inside the secret realm will reach a critical point. It must be opened once to release some of it, otherwise the entire secret realm will collapse. At that time, the resentment sealed for a thousand years will erupt in one day, and the consequences will be..." He didn't finish his sentence, but just shook his head, picked up his teacup, and took another sip.

Lin Che remained silent for a moment, then tapped his knee lightly with his fingers twice.

His mind raced, and he roughly guessed the key to this secret realm.

"So this is why you told me before that all cultivators can enter this secret realm?" He raised his head and looked directly at Wang Qinian.

"Exactly." Wang Qinian picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"The Fang family was unwilling to take the risk of opening the gates themselves, and in order to win over the families and independent cultivators along the Burning Bone Pass, they released this opportunity."

The monster skeletons, soul crystals, and evil energy crystals in the secret realm are all valuable items, as are the spiritual plants born under special conditions…”

He paused, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Especially in the secret realm, there are materials for forming the Golden Core, as well as a kind of Nascent Soul spiritual object. Every time it opens, it draws cultivators from the Burning Bone Pass to gather here, and no one wants to miss it."

Lin Che's expression shifted slightly, and his gaze froze.

"A spirit object that forms an infant?"

If there really is some spiritual object that can help a cultivator form a Nascent Soul, then he probably really has to make a trip there.

The difference between Golden Core and Nascent Soul is as small as one word, yet they are worlds apart.

In Chuyang City, those at the Golden Core stage are considered top-tier combatants, but in the entire Southern Region, they are merely just beginning to establish themselves.

Only those at the Nascent Soul stage are truly qualified to make moves on the chessboard.

"That's right." Wang Qinian nodded, his eyes showing a knowing look that said, "I knew you'd be interested."

"This item was born in the deepest core area of ​​the Burial Ground of Ten Thousand Beasts. It is called 'Blood Jade Infant Marrow,' a spiritual object formed by the condensation of millennia of resentment and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth under special conditions. It can increase a cultivator's success rate in forming an Infant by 30%. For this reason, no Golden Core power or rogue cultivator in Burning Bone Pass will miss it."

"When will it be turned on?" Lin Che asked.

"Two months later."

Wang Qinian put down his teacup and looked directly at Lin Che.

"The Fang family has already announced that the secret realm will officially open this July and last for thirty days. Cultivators along the Burning Bone Pass, whether from a family or a rogue cultivator, can register to enter. As long as they pay the entrance fee, the Fang family will treat everyone equally."

"Brother Wang invited me here, is it to involve the Lin family as well?" Lin Che's gaze was calm.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, we've known each other for so many years, I won't beat around the bush with you."

"This secret realm is filled with the souls of demonic beasts. Although those souls are no longer considered demonic beasts, they are still demonic beasts in the end. Brother Lin is skilled in the art of beast taming, which gives him a natural advantage in this secret realm."

"That's why I want to cooperate with Brother Lin. I can provide you with a rough map of the interior. It's not drawn by me, but accumulated by the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce over the years. It marks the known dangerous areas, resource distribution, and several relatively safe routes. You just need to promise me that if you sell the harvest, you will give priority to the Fengxing Chamber of Commerce."

Lin Che did not respond immediately.

I picked up the teacup and slowly took a sip.

His thoughts were racing.

He already had a general idea of ​​what Wang Qinian's proposal meant.

But at this moment, he was thinking about more than just cooperation.

There is another possibility.

A possible solution that could be drastic.

Could those three companies be trying to use this opportunity to eliminate themselves?

The Lin family is currently thriving, the Qingmu Chamber of Commerce is booming, the hot pot restaurant is a hit throughout the city, and the development of Qingze is progressing steadily.

Ultimately, the foundation of the Lin family lies with Lin Che himself.

The blockade by the business alliance and the framing of troublemakers are merely superficial tactics that cannot shake the foundation of the Lin family.

But what if he dies?

If he were to die "accidentally" in the secret realm, the development of the Aoki Trading Company would instantly collapse.

Those collaborations that were under negotiation will be shelved, those merchants who were still observing will back down, and those undercurrents that had been suppressed will surge again.

Without the presence of a Golden Core cultivator, the Lin family's status in Burning Bone City will plummet.

Lin Che's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of coldness flashing deep within them.

This is an open conspiracy.

The secret realm contains materials for forming the Golden Core, which can enhance a family's foundation, and even spiritual items that can help Lin Che form his Nascent Soul.

He couldn't possibly give up this opportunity; in fact, no Golden Core cultivator aspiring to advance further would give it up.

The other party had clearly calculated this.

Lin Che chuckled to himself.

These three are easy to scheme against.

But they could never have imagined their own strength and resources.

Just right.

He lowered his eyes, concealing the fleeting glint of glint in them.

Let's see who's really pulling the rug out from under us.

Stopping his thoughts, Lin Che raised his head and his gaze returned to Wang Qinian's face.

"What should we be careful about in the secret realm?" he asked.

Wang Qinian smiled slightly, knowing that Lin Che had something on his mind.

He picked up his teacup, moistened his throat, and then stretched out his fingers to count them one by one.

"First, cultivation level suppression."

He gave a thumbs up: "The evil energy in the secret realm is very strong, which will suppress the strength of cultivators. Even if a Golden Core cultivator enters, their strength will be suppressed to around the mid-Golden Core stage. So it is unrealistic to rely on strength to suppress it after entering."

"Secondly, the corrosive influence of malevolent energy."

He extended his index finger: "The baleful aura not only suppresses cultivation, but also erodes the protective qi. If you stay inside for too long, once the protective qi is broken, the baleful aura will directly erode your physical body and soul. At best, it will cause restlessness and disordered spiritual power; at worst, it will cause your meridians to reverse and your foundation to be damaged. Therefore, the first hurdle that cultivators face when they enter is the invasion of baleful aura."

"Third, the dead." He raised his middle finger, his expression becoming more serious.

"The souls of the demonic beasts in the secret realm have not completely dissipated; they slumber within the skeletons. They will awaken when disturbed, and the greater the disturbance, the more will awaken. There are also souls at the Golden Core stage, but they are all deep within. As long as you don't go too deep, you generally won't encounter them. However, if you accidentally disturb a group of them..."

He didn't continue, but simply shook his head, the meaning of which couldn't be clearer.

"Fourth, the Crimson Tide." He extended his ring finger, his voice lowering slightly.

"The Fang family calls it the 'Tide of Evil Qi.' The evil qi in the secret realm surges periodically. During the tide, the concentration of evil qi increases sharply, and the dead souls awaken on a large scale. At that time, even Golden Core cultivators cannot last long."

Therefore, the Fang family has a rule that the highest level of cultivators who can enter the secret realm is the Golden Core stage. If someone is above the Nascent Soul stage, entering will awaken all the dead souls within the secret realm, and then it won't just be a matter of a few people being unlucky.

He withdrew his fingers, picked up the teacup, and looked directly at Lin Che.

That's all I know.

After listening, Lin Che picked up his teacup and drank the remaining tea in one gulp.

"Thank you for the information, Brother Wang."

He stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Wang Qinian, and did so with a swift and decisive movement.

"I've agreed to the cooperation. I'll contact Brother Wang again before the secret realm opens."

Wang Qinian smiled, took out a jade slip from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and pushed it in front of Lin Che.

"This is a rough map of the secret realm, accumulated by the Fengxing Merchant Guild over many years. It's not complete, but it's much better than the maps held by those independent cultivators outside. Brother Lin, take a look first. If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to send me a message."

Lin Che put away the jade slip, his fingertips touching the warm, smooth surface of the jade, and could feel the spiritual energy fluctuations contained within it.

"Alright, then I'll head back and make preparations."

Wang Qinian stood up, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Fellow Daoist Lin, please take care. I won't see you off. There are many things to do before the secret realm opens, and there are still many things to prepare."

Lin Che pushed open the door and stepped out, his footsteps gradually fading into the distance and disappearing at the end of the corridor.

……

After leaving the Wind Chaser Merchant Guild, Lin Che did not linger in Burning Bone City.

He walked slowly along Qingyun Street, his eyes sweeping over the bustling crowds on the street, while his mind raced with calculations.

The land where ten thousand beasts are buried, where spirit creatures are formed, and the open schemes of those three families.

He needed to return to Shattered Star Lake immediately to gather his sons and discuss the matter.

On Qingyun Street, long queues still form outside hot pot restaurants.

Through the glass windows, you could see steam rising inside, and diners enjoying their hot pot with great enthusiasm, completely unaware that the farce that had occurred that morning had taken place.

As he reached the street corner, the communication jade slip in his sleeve became slightly warm.

Upon taking it out, I saw it was a message from Zhi Hei.

"Father, the Cheng, He, and Liu families have been making frequent contact lately, seemingly plotting something big. Our spies have discovered that they are secretly contacting a group of rogue cultivators, all of whom are at least at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Their specific purpose is unclear, but there are quite a few of them."

Lin Che put away the jade slip, his gaze turning slightly cold.

really.

The knives from those three families are already sharpened.

Shattered Star Lake, the council hall of the comprehensive area.

Lin Che sat in the main seat, with the jade slip given to him by Wang Qinian spread out in front of him. He immersed his divine sense in it and looked through the map of the secret realm one by one.

The map is labeled in great detail.

The outer perimeter is a safe "light sleeping zone" where there are few dead souls and the malevolent energy is relatively weak;

The "wandering zone" in central Taiwan is frequented by wandering spirits and is filled with malevolent energy.

The core "Slumber Zone" is the territory of Golden Core stage dead souls, so dense with malevolent energy that even the markings on the map are tinged with a dark red.

"Father, are you really going to enter that secret realm?" Lin Xuanqi put down his teacup, his brows furrowed.

His voice wasn't loud, but his worry was impossible to hide.

"We must go." Lin Che raised his head and glanced at his sons present. "A Nascent Soul Spiritual Object is a rare find. If I can form a Nascent Soul before the beast tide arrives, our Lin family will have a greater chance of defending Chuyang City."

Lin Xuandong was silent for a moment before speaking: "Those three families will definitely make their move in the secret realm. They don't dare to do it openly in Burning Bone City, but in a place like the secret realm, it's normal for someone to die. Father, we're worried about you going in alone."

A smile appeared on Lin Che's lips: "What? You don't believe in your old man's strength? Don't worry, I never fight unprepared battles. Those three families' cultivators can't do anything to me!"

Lin Xuanfeng gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his eyes burning: "Father, I'll go with you."

"You're not good enough." Lin Che shook his head, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Although Foundation Establishment cultivators are not restricted from entering this secret realm, it is too dangerous. There is the corrosive evil energy and the attack of dead souls. Every step is perilous. If you enter, you will not only be of no help, but will become a burden. I will need to take care of you, and that is the greatest danger."

He stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and gazed at the Shattered Star Lake shrouded in twilight in the distance.

"You guys stay home. The development of Qingze can't stop, and the business in Burning Bone City can't be interrupted."

After I go in, the outside world will need you even more.

Each of Qingze's medicinal herb garden and spirit beast ranch requires someone to keep an eye on it.

The hot pot restaurants and the Green Wood Merchant Guild in Burning Bone City also need someone to oversee them.

The Merchant Alliance won't stop just because I entered the secret realm; on the contrary, they'll intensify their suppression while I'm away.

The group wanted to say something more, but Lin Che raised his hand to stop them.

"My mind is made up."

The council chamber fell silent for a moment.

Lin Xuanqi took a deep breath and was the first to nod: "Okay, we will do our best to help you prepare!"

"We'll speed things up in Qingze within two months, aiming to have all the necessary infrastructure completed before your departure. As for Burning Bone City, I'll have Xuan Dong keep a close eye on things to ensure nothing goes wrong."

Lin Che nodded, looked away, and turned to look at his sons.

"Alright, everyone disperse. Go back and think carefully about how to handle your own affairs in the next two months. As for the secret realm, I can handle it alone."

Everyone stood up and filed out...